Automatic roll-supplied copy material-feeding and cutting mechanism

ABSTRACT

As an original sheet, such as a tracing, to be copied on a sensitized sheet in an automatic copying machine moves longitudinally in the flat on a horizontal surface, the front and rear edges of the origianl sheet actuate sensor switch which energize control circuits to cause a web to be drawn from a selected one of two supply rolls of copy paper in which lightly tensioned slack is provided to improve the start of the web feed, and a loop is initially formed in the web at the exit of a web cutting station to provide for subsequent cutting of the web which the part being cut is stationary and the part in front continues to feed for perfect length-matching of the original and copy sheets, in conjunction with a speed control having a manadjustable dial that is mechanically connected to shiftable switch mounts for synchronizing the operation of the mechanism.

United States Patent [191 Boston AUTOMATIC ROLL-SUPPLIED COPY MATERIAL-FEEDING AND CUTTING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Robert L. Boston, Vestal, NY. 73 Assignee: GAF Corporation, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 126,233

Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran Attorney-Walter C. Kehm, Samson B. Leavitt and Martin Smolowitz [451 Apr. 17, 1973 1 ABSTRACT As an original sheet, such as a tracing, to be copied on a sensitized sheet in an automatic copying machine moves longitudinally in the flat on a horizontal surface, the front and rear edges of the origianl sheet actuate sensor switch which energize control circuits to cause a web to be drawn from a selected one of two supply rolls of copy paper in which lightly tensioned slack is provided to improve the start of the web feed, and a loop is initially formed in the web at the exit of a web cutting station to provide for subsequent cutting of the web which the part being cut is stationary and the part in front continues to feed for perfect lengthmatching of the original and copy sheets, in conjunction with a speed control having a man-adjustable dial that is mechanically connected to shiftable switch mounts for synchronizing the operation of the mechanism.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED m2 1 mm Fig.

Fig. 3.

Fig. l.

INVENTOR ROBERT L.80ST9N WTTORNEY AUTOMATIC ROLL-SUPPLIED COPY MATE FEEDING AND CUTTING MECHANISM This invention relates to copying machines and more particularly to automatic mechanism for controlling the feeding and cutting of copy paper suppled by rolls that are at rest when not in use, according to the lenght of each corresponding original sheet of any length.

According to the invention a plurality of rolls of sensitized copy paper web are provided. Such rolls many of the same or of different widths, as well of different diazo sensitization, or combinations thereof. In any event, the length of each cut sheet is determined automatically by the length of the original sheet, a tracing for example.

The automatic selection of a particular web, smooth feeding from the selector initially stationary roll thereof by virtue of lightly tensioned slack in the web, formation of a loop in the web at the exit of a common cutting station for enabling the web eventually to be cut while the part being cut is stationary, and cutting of the web, are all controlled by sensor switches when actuated by movement of each original sheet in the flat on a flat surface that may be substantially horizontal. As the original advances in the flat in the direction of its length, the leading and trailing edges thereof actuate such switches.

The sensor switches are carried by movable supports or mounts located under such surface. This permits adjustable movement of selected switches to take place longitudinally in the direction of movement of the originals for accurate setting depending upon the speed of operation of the machine. Such speed is controlled by an electrical circuit having a manually adjustable dial for regulating the same. The dial and switch mounts are mechanically connected, so that manual setting of the machine speed control dial also sets the correct effective positions of the switches to correspond thereto for accurate function of the copy paper supply mechanism. Thus, the length of each sheet of copy paper is automatically cut to match that of the corresponding original efficiently as well effectively to produce substantially perfect matching of each copy with its original in the subsequent copying operation of the machine throughout the speed range thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a copying machine embodying mechanism illustrative of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the speed control device.

FIG. 3 is a similar representation of the web drive and loop roll clutch system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the machine M is housed in a cabinet C having a flat horizontal top T provided with slots through which project annular ribs 22 on rollers 24. The rollers 24 are mounted under the top T and are rotated in unison so that ribs 22 advance each original sheet, such as a tracing 26, in the direction of the length thereof over the flat surface of said top T, toward a moving table belt B, one end of which is carried by a roller 28.

Located directly under top T between the rollers are shallow channels 30, 32 and 34. On channel 34 are mounted a loop-clutch switch 3 and a supply roll selector switch 4; Such switches as well as similar switches are located under the top T with their fingers F projecting upwardly through corresponding slots in the top T whereby such fingers F are activated by the tracing in moving over such top T.

A copy-paper web start switch 6 is mounted on a bracket 36 that rests on the bottom of channel 32 and is pivoted thereto at 38 for limited angular adjustment in a horizontal plane. Such adjustment is made through a cable 40 which is connected at one end to the bracket 36 at 42, passed over a small horizontal pulley 44 on one side of the bracket, and acts against the force of a compression spring 12' connected between an arm 48 on such one side of'the bracket 36, and the inner flange 50 at the other side of the channel 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the other end of cable 40 is connected to a manually adjustable dial 52 of a speed control device 54 for setting the speed of operation of the machine.

Switch 7 is carried by a bracket 46 pivoted to channel 30 and 11, and biazed by spring 12 against tension on cable 58 which is also connected to the dial 52 for simultaneously adjusting the switch 7 when the speed setting is changes in accordance therewith.

In FIG. 1 supply rolls 60 and 62 comprise diazo sensitized paper webs 64 and 66, respectively, that are at rest when not in use by the mechanism. The web in each case passes under a tension roller 1, then over a drive roller 2, and on past a guide member 68, and through a common cutting station 70. Tension roller 1 is urged by the light tension of a spring 8 against the web 64 to form a certain amount of web starting slack therein, the roller 1 being suitably swingable mounted for such movement. Located at the web exit of the cutting station is a loop roller 5, from which the web or cut copy length continues on onto the table belt B.

As the leading edge of the tracing 26 is fed into the continuously driven infeed rollers 24 it actuates the two switches 3 and 4. Switch 3 when actuated de-energies clutch 72, FIG. 3, on the loop roller 5, thus stopping this roller. Switch 4 when actuated prepares the mechanism for one of the paper drive rollers 60, 62, and when it is not actuated it prepares for the other paper drive roller 2'. Switch 6 is then actuated, and releases a brake 74, FIG. 3, and energies clutch 76 to drive the selected web of sensitized material. The leading edge of this web comes into the nip of the loop roller 5 which is stopped at this time and a small loop 78 is created.

When the leading edge of the tracing 26 actuates switch 7, the loop roller clutch 72 is actuated, and the loop roller 5 then drives the web of sensitized material so that the leading edge of the sensitized material will be aligned with the leading edge of the tracing when they come together. As the trailing edge of the tracing 26 releases switch 6, the paper drive roller clutch 76 is de-energized, the brake 74 is energized, and the rotary solenoids 10 are energized, thus causing the rotary knife to cut the web of paper. The loop 78 that was created at the initial feeding operation, now enables the knife 80 to cut that part of the web, which is stationary when the drive roller 2 is stopped.

As pointed out above, web start switch 6 and the loop roller switch 7 are mounted on brackets 36 and 46 that are free to pivot under spring tension. These brackets are adjusted through gearing and linkage 40, 58 from the machine speed control dial 52, FIG. 2. This linkage will advance. the switches to provide an earlier actuation time as the machine speed increases, and vice versa.

The swing-mounted tension roller 2 is located between the roll 60 of web material 9 and the drive roller 2. This tension roller 2 is light in weight, and has a relatively light spring 8 for tension. When the drive roller 2 is stopped the inertia of the roll of material 9.at rest, and the spring force on the tension roller 2 causes the web 64 to form an obtuse angle at the tension roller 1. At the instant of start-up, the drive roller has only to overcome the light spring force of the tension roller 1 before it has to overcome the mass of the roll of material 9. The device assures the copy size to be the same as the tracing in lenght especially at the'higher machine speeds. When the drive roller 2 is being driven the web forms a straight line that is tangent to the drive roller 2 and the roll of material 9.

The following unique features combine to assure smooth and trouble-free operation of the mechanism:

1. The slack-tension device for starting-feed of the web from a supply roll at rest when the feed starts.

2. The initial loop creating device for enabling the part of the web being cut to be stationary without interrupting feed of the main part of the cut copy sheet.

3. The switch-machine speed control dial mechanically connected device for automatically simultaneously adjusting the effective positions of the sensor switches when the speed of the machine is manually set.

What is claimed is:

1. Automatic mechanism responsive to the movement of original sheets of any length in a copying machine for feeding copy paper from a continuous web in the form of a roll and cutting sheets from the web which correspond in length to that of the original for use in the copying operation, comprising means providing substantially horizontal surface for each original sheet in the flat in moving from the inlet to the exit thereof in the direction of the length of each original sheet at a preselected constant speed,

copy paper web roll supply means,

drive means operative when energized for drawing web from said supply means and feeding such web through a cutting station,

the copy paper web roll supply means comprises means for carrying a plurality of individual rolls of such material that are stationary when not supplying web to said drive means,

the web drive means comprises a drive roller for each supply roll that is spaced therefrom, and

a tension roller located between such drive and supply rollers for providing a predetermined amount of free slack in the web that is under light tension for improving the starting of the web feed and, v

the drive roll operating means comprising drive roll selector switch means for operating said drive rollers in succession when activated by the leading edges of successive original sheets,

web cutting means located at such station,

means controlled by sensor switches activated by the leading and trailing ed es of each original in movmg over such surface or operating said web drive means and said web cutting means for delivering a copy sheet which matches the length of the corresponding original sheet.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, in which the web cutting means comprises a common rotary cutter, and

a loop roller is located adjacent the web exit of such cutting station for causing a small loop to be formed in the web when the roller is stationary and the leading edge of the web is initially advanced through the cutting station; and

the operating means comprises means for stopping said loop roller until the leading edge of each original sheet activates a loop roller drive switch, whereupon the loop roller drives the forward part of the web until after a sheet is cut from the web by said cutter while that part of the web being cut is stationary by virtue of the stoppage of the web drive roller. 

1. Automatic mechanism responsive to the movement of original sheets of any length in a copying machine for feeding copy paper from a continuous web in the form of a roll and cutting sheets from the web which correspond in length to that of the original for use in the copying operation, comprising means providing substantially horizontal surface for each original sheet in the flat in moving from the inlet to the exit thereof in the direction of the length of each original sheet at a preselected constant speed, copy paper web roll supply means, drive means operative when energized for drawing web from said supply means and feeding such web through a cutting station, the copy paper web roll supply means comprises means for carrying a plurality of individual rolls of such material that are stationary when not supplying web to said drive means, the web drive means comprises a drive roller for each supply roll that is spaced therefrom, and a tension roller located between such drive and supply rollers for providing a predetermined amount of free slack in the web that is under light tension for improving the starting of the web feed and, the drive roll operating means comprising drive roll selector switch means for operating said drive rollers in succession when activated by the leading edges of successive original sheets, web cutting means located at such station, means controlled by sensor switches activated by the leading and trailing edges of each original in moving over such surface for operating said web drive means and said web cutting means for delivering a copy sheet which matches the length of the corresponding original sheet.
 2. The invention as defined by claim 1, in which the web cutting means comprises a common rotary cutter, and a loop roller is located adjacent the web exit of such cutting station for causing a small loop to be formed in the web when the roller is stationary and the leading edge of the web is initially advanced through the cutting station; and the operating means comprises means for stopping said loop roller until the leading edge of each original sheet activates a loop roller drive switch, whereupon the loop roller drives the forward part of the web until after a sheet is cut from the web by said cutter while thAt part of the web being cut is stationary by virtue of the stoppage of the web drive roller. 